Two people who completed "Veganuary" tell Sky News how 31 days without meat or dairy foods affected their lives and their health.

As January comes to an end, record numbers of people who ditched meat and dairy products in the new year are completing their pledge to go vegan for a month.

Here, nutritionist Ben Coomber and personal trainer Debbie Choi tell Sky News how signing up for "Veganuary" affected their bodies and whether they will be making a permanent change to their eating habits.

Ben Coomber

So I've just finished Veganuary and the big question on the lips of everyone I've spoken to is; how did it go and will I stay vegan as a result?

Firstly, let's rewind - why did I do this? I decided to do Veganuary to experience what a full vegan diet felt like.

As a nutritionist I had never followed this diet for such a length of time despite advising vegan, vegetarian and a variety of plant-based clients.

I decided to go all in so I could comment with more authority and experience first-hand.

It wasn't easy. The transition to new protein sources and knowing how to cook them in interesting ways was often a challenge.

You have to be aware of how you're going to make these changes and get more creative in the kitchen.

Image:Ben said he went 'all in' to help him advise vegan clients

I also felt low on energy - as if I was lacking something - so ensuring I was eating enough total calories, getting enough protein in general, and getting creative with my protein sources was key.

I did notice an overall decline in gym performance and strength so I need to play about with that and try to get right what I am eating.

My diet focused a lot on porridge bowl combinations with protein supplements, chick pea and lentil curries, tofu in stir-fry and Asian dishes, protein smoothies with fruit and awesome vegan protein powder, lots of fruits and vegetables as per my usual diet, and a few meat replacements like vegan sausages and mince.

So, will I stay vegan?

The answer is no - but I will be meeting my normal diet and vegan diet halfway and focusing more of my future meals exclusively around plants.

A mixture of tofu, pulses, nuts and meat replacements will have a larger place in my diet in replacement of some of my usual animal protein intake, likely reducing my meat and dairy intake by half.

Debbie Choi

Image:Debbie says she felt 'run down' after going vegan

Before I did Veganuary my diet was pretty healthy.

I cook most of my meals from scratch, buy organic meat and eggs and eat very little processed food.

I went about Veganuary by keeping to my healthy diet but cut out all meat, eggs, dairy and honey.

The biggest challenge was eating out.

I personally stayed away from vegan meat, cheese and butter substitutes as they tend to be more processed than their actual counterparts and aren't very healthy to eat on a regular basis.

If I wasn't doing Veganuary, I would probably order the meat dish at restaurants as at least I know what's in it.

I was pleasantly surprised, however, by the amount of vegan options that restaurants now offer.

Because I went from eating quite a healthy diet to being vegan, I didn't notice any health benefits within the month.

In fact I actually felt more tired, run down and caught a bad cold - something I hadn't had in more than a year.

This may be due to lack of nutrients like iron and B12 - high sources found in meat and animal products.

For someone swapping from an unhealthy diet to a vegan diet, they may feel more health benefits.

But it poses the question - is that because they've stopped eating meat and dairy or is it because they have to cook more from scratch, eat less convenience food and more of their meals are now based around plants?

Overall, I have enjoyed my experience of Veganuary but I will not continue to be vegan as I have always eaten for optimal health.

If you are thinking about becoming vegan, please do it for animal cruelty and environmental reasons. It is not a diet primarily for health benefits.